ON this great home if change must fall, Let change itself come soft and fair; Leave these cloud-feathery skies, and all The abandonment of upland air; Leave ancient forest, ancient lawn, Historic ash-trees, beechen shade; Still let the slanted shafts of dawn Light the low fern from glade to glade. No more the Churchmen, sad and slow, Chaunt in dim dusk their crooning song; Nor captive queen thro' lattice low Views a wild realm of wrath and wrong: To these Inheritors belong A sure dominion, master art; For moat and wall they choose the strong Ascendant of the nobler heart. And if sometimes that heart should quail, Half doubtful of high task begun; Beholding hallowed landmarks fail, Dear hopes evanish one by one;— Yet best shall lead who best have led;— Those thro' our chaos surest steer Whose fathers' bygone deeds have bred Imperious Honour, flouting Fear. "By her own strength can Virtue live? Self-poised can Hope wide-winging soar?" List! for our deepening age shall give Some answer surer than of yore;— Stand fast, high hearts, thro' woe and weal; Watch thro' the night, if watch ye may; Wait, till the rifted heavens reveal Unheard-of morning, mystic day. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...STUDY FOR A GEOGRAPHICAL TRAIL; 5. MARYLAND by CLARENCE MAJOR THE CONCLUSION OF A LETTER TO THE REV. MR. C --. by MARY BARBER LILIES: 23. FINALLY ALONE by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) ADOLESCENCE by MAVIS CLARE BARNETT AN OLD SONG by SOLOMON BLOOMGARDEN |